CSR delivers CD-quality stereo wireless audio to Sennheiser Bluetooth enabled headphones

CAMBRIDGE & BELFAST, UK: CSR announced that Sennheiser, one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-end headphones, is using CSR's apt-X audio technology to bring CD-quality sound to the new Sennheiser PXC 360 BT stereo headphones.

Sennheiser is employing CSR's apt-X CODEC on the industry-leading BlueCore5-multimedia audio platform from CSR to provide superior audio quality via Bluetooth wireless technology.

Designed for use with mobile phones, MP3 players, iPod, iPhone (iPod and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries), computer games, and laptops, Sennheiser's growing range of portable wireless products now include the recently launched PXC 360 BT high performance stereo headphones with NoiseGard-2.0(TM) noise-cancelling technology and SRS-WOW HD surround-sound, plus two other apt-X technology-enabled A2DP models, the PXC 310 BT noise-cancelling headphones and the PX 210 BT headphones.

Thanks to CSR's apt-X high-performance audio coding technology, standard Bluetooth A2DP wireless connectivity enables the wireless streaming of CD quality digital stereo audio with minimal latency.

Unlike the default-mode SBC CODEC for standard-quality stereo Bluetooth wireless connectivity, the apt-X audio coding technology transports the total spectrum of audible frequencies (20Hz-22kHz) over narrowband stereo Bluetooth wireless technology links. apt-X audio coding technology also mitigates against interference effects caused by data packet drop-outs due to signal disturbances from other nearby radio-based systems (Wi-Fi, wireless USB, etc).

Already used extensively in professional audio applications (including radio broadcast, TV and movie post-production, and recording studios), CSR's apt-X audio coding technology is now found in a fast-growing ecosystem of consumer audio products, especially wireless speaker systems, stereo wireless headphones, and adapters for hi-fi equipment and home theatre systems which use Bluetooth wireless technology.

Commenting on the increasing market trend toward apt-X audio coding in stereo applications using Bluetooth wireless technology, Noel McKenna, Senior Director of apt-X at CSR, said: "apt-X audio coding puts CD-quality back into the stereo experience using Bluetooth technology. The Bluetooth technology has evolved organically to the point where the baseline performance of SBC for stereo suits general audio applications using Bluetooth technology, but for consumers that demand the full CD-quality audio range the use of apt-X audio coding delivers the required acoustic purity."

Talking about the addition of the PXC 360 BT to its range of stereo headphones, Maurice Quarré, Head of Product Management at Sennheiser said: "When it comes to travel headphones, Sennheiser customers expect a first-class sound experience. So, thanks to these extra special features – apt-X technology, Bluetooth technology, SRS-WOW HD, NoiseGard-2.0 - the new PXC 360 BT really is the perfect companion for travellers. This new portable wireless headphone design ticks all the boxes: high-end sound quality, wire-free operation, surround-sound, active noise-cancelling and sleek design. CSR's apt-X technology provides excellent wireless connectivity and ensures that the high audio quality is maintained across the wireless link."